Saint Augustine was a man who was sent from Rome to Britain to spread Christianity. He was supposed to lead a group of 30 missionary monks. He was sent by Pope Gregory the 1st, who was in Rome. He landed in England in 597 on Thanet, an island off the coast of Southern England. Ethelbert King of Kent welcomed them warmly. His preaching turned many people to Christianity as well as the King. In 601 he became the first archbishop of Canterbury. Saint Augustine said that people's material possesions were worth nothing because it distracted them from worshipping God. He also said that everything that existed in the world was a symbol of God. He died on May 26, 604. His feast day is on May 27th in the Roman Catholic Church and on the general church calendar. On May 28 in England, and on May 26 in other parts of the World . St. Augustine was the Archbishop of Canterbury. He founded the Christ Church.
clopedia 2002. By William J. Courtenay
"Augustine." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 13 Jan. 2009 <http://ea.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=0026680-00>.